[The diagnostic value of serum latex agglutination test for pulmonary cryptococcosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen latex agglutination test (LA) for pulmonary cryptococcosis.


METHODS
Serum and lung biopsy specimens of 27 patients, who were suspected of having pulmonary cryptococcosis based on clinical presentations and imaging features, were collected from July 2000 to July 2007 in the First Hospital of Peking University. LA test and histopathological examination were performed in all the patients.


RESULTS
Histopathological examination confirmed pulmonary cryptococcosis in 9 cases, all of whom were positive for serum LA test. The other 18 cases were confirmed to have no cryptococcosis and all of them were negative for serum LA test. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of LA test were both 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic value of serum LA test for pulmonary cryptococcosis is high.
Mu
Xiang-Dong
XD
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Li
Ruo-Yu
RY
Wan
Zhe
Z
Wang
Guang-Fa
GF
Liu
Ping
P
Wang
Ren-Gui
RG
He
Bing
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D000946:Antigens, Fungal